About DESTINO Latin Bistro/Pisco Bar

DESTINO Latin Bistro/Pisco Bar sits on Market Street in between Valencia and Guerrero, and has been for the past 15 years. With personal roots from Peru, executive chef/owner, James Schenk has been on the forefront of gastronomical trends, making DESTINO a staple of Latin American restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area. From Pisco to Cachaca to Mezcal and Burbon, our full bar can satisfy any cocktail craving! If you don't know what Pisco is, ask one of our bartenders, and they can educate you with our Pisco Flight. For wine lovers, we offer a wide variety of South American, Spanish and California wines, that make pairing dishes a true delight!

Entertainment:We offer a great selection of Latin American music ranging from Salsa and Cumbia to Latin Pop and Top 40.

Catering:With over 15 years of event experience,DESTINO can accommodate a variety ofcatered events:From cocktail receptions of 20 people,to full service catering up to 200, let us make your next occasion memorableat your home, office or other location!(Options Include)-Deliverable party platters-Customized menus-Event staffing

For more information, please visit our website at destinosf.com or contact: james@destinosf.com.

Parking Details:Street Parking. We recommend parking on Market street in between Valencia and Guerrero, Duboce in between Valencia and Guerrero, Peal Street and Elgin Park side streets.

Took my son and his girlfriend here for a nice family evening out. I had heard that the food was wonderful and the ratings on Open Table were good, so we traveled a distance to give it a try. I have to saythat it was 100% worth the drive. The atmosphere was warm and cozy. The drinks were definitely unique and delicious. The food was so delicious that I couldn't leave my hubby out... I had to take a plate home for him! And, the service was spot on. My son didn't love his drink, so the waiter quickly obliged him with a replacement free of charge. Everything about this meal was on par with my experience at finer dining establishments. Beautiful meal & memories! Well done Destino! 😊

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our meal at Destino. We split an empenada, ceviche, plantain chips, salad, and casserole. I had a Pisco Sour - mmmmmmm, and he had wine. We were not overly stuffed, but pleasantly satisfied with our dinner. Kudos to Destino!

We went to the bar side first which had very entertaining 80s music videos playing. The staff were really friendly and quick. The dinner itself was delicious. Staff was extremely attentive and the feel of the place was lively but still comfortable. Definitely a place worth visiting.

Tags: Handcrafted Cocktails, Tapas, Good for a Date, Fit for Foodies, Good for Birthdays

Gracious service, fun menu with lots of creative takes on S.American fare. We felt prices were extremely reasonable for S.F. We had an early 7 pm dinner and it was fairly quiet in the dining room, although the bar side was lively. By the time we left , the whole place was abuzz and there were a couple of large families dining. We enjoyed people watching while we ate at the window counter facing Market st. We will be back!

We had such a great evening at Destino. I hadn't been for several years, and the food is as good as ever. I love the warm feel, service was great and the price is good for SF. I already booked my next meal there!

I have been to Destino a number of times in the past, and always enjoyed my experience. This time, we went there for our 9th wedding anniversary. The service was ok, a little slow and I noticed that other tables were getting served more quickly than we were. At the end of dinner, our server asked if we wanted dessert menus then was gone for several minutes, then chatting with his colleague for several more minutes, then I had to loudly call him to come over as he was walking by. We had clearly been forgotten. I reminded him that he had said he was going to bring us dessert menus, and at this point we really just wanted the check. Not an awesome end to dinner.

This place has been here for 17 years so you know they are doing something right! Great service, thanks Juan!, and the ambiance is warm and inviting. Food was good but we thought there is room for improvement. Pescado a lo Macho was outstanding just be careful with runaway spines. Pineapple panna cota very unique and delicious.

We've come to favor Destino for dinner before theater events. The menu's combination of tapas and large plates gives diners options perfect for individual appetites as well as opportunities to share their unique Peruvian cuisine family style. Service is friendly and attentive. Diners have a choice between their airy & colorful restaurant or more casual and dark bar side. The seasonal menu varies for variety but always offers a variety of ceviche and samosas. Last visit we tried the capon with quinoa served in a winter squash bowl with crunchy strands of jicama and a bit of spice. Wonderful! Perfect spot for family, group or couples.

We three were there to have dinner but decided to sit at the bar and eat there before heading to the movies. Great tasting food and our bartender Maddy was very pleasant making us feel very welcomed on a Sunday early evening.

We were a party of nine and reserved a table through the open table website. We called earlier on the same evening for confirmation. 8:30, party of nine, the same day, it looked all fine and we were looking forward to it. When we got there they told us that our table was reserved for 9pm and we should have a drink first. Okay, fine, we found a tiny table at the bar and had a drink. Then they told us that this small table should be our dining table. This option wouldn't have worked. The table was okay for drinks, but food for 9 people would have never fit. Another half an hour later we were properly seated. And another half an hour later we could order our food. In the end we waited 2 hours to eat without any apologies. All in all, the food was fine, but we weren't treated well. I wouldn't recommend this place to a friend.

The chiles rellenos, empanadas, and ceviche were quite tasty. We enjoyed the chiles rellenos and the lechón. Thought the lomo saltado was too tough. The service was not tip top. Forgot a dish and drinks. But overall it was a nice night.

Tags: Neighborhood Gem, Special Occasion, Casual, Cozy, Good for a Date, Good for Birthdays

Enjoyed our dinner at Destino very much. The Pescado a lo Macho, Chile Relleno, and Lomo Saltado were our favorite dishes. Didn't much care for the Pastel de Choclo but everything else was great. For two people, I would recommend splitting an app, then get two small plates each. Add the salad to split if you're extra hungry. We didn't try any dessert but next time we will. Waitstaff was knowledgable and friendly.

My fiance and I really enjoyed Destino restaurant. The food was particularly delicious, everything we had some amazing. The service was great, my only complaint would be that we asked one of our appetizer to come without pork and it arrive with a big slice of bacon on the scallops... So we had to wait another 10 min for the chef to redo our plate. Besides that, the waiting time between dishes was decent and the atmosphere very enjoyable, soft lights, big mirrors on the wall. I would come back!

Thought I would try Destino again after many years. The food was interesting and we had an enjoyable evening - but it wasn't special enough to return. The decor and tables are frayed at the edges - perhaps adding table clothes would mitigate this. Yucca fries soggy. Brussels sprouts meh. Squash/qunioa veg dish ok, but undercooked, fish dish was nice, cooked perfectly, tasty sauce but the fish was swimming in it. Dessert of chocolate bunuelos was really good. Horchata pana cota sounded like a good idea, but wasn't - an odd texture when you're expecting a smooth pana cota or a rice pudding - and this was sort of both. Perhaps a more focused execution is called for...?

Love tapas and they have them... Some good and flavorful and exciting whilst others were as bland as cardboard. Sangria a hit. Loved all the pork dishes. Yucca and mint was unusual and created discussion. Planta's were a fail.

The ambiance here is great. The service was prompt and helpful, but not too in your face. We had the ceviche, the cauliflower brussel sprouts, and the chicken and corn palaco? It was all really tasty. We were there early, around 6 to get to Cirque du Soleil by 8 pm. If you want to get to a show they'll get you there on time. I didn't have drinks this time but I've had cocktails there before and they were really tasty.

I love Destino. I have taken many friends and colleagues here over the years. You will absolutely enjoy your meal!

Tags: Good for Anniversaries, Good for Groups, Hot Spot, Handcrafted Cocktails, Vibrant Bar Scene, Romantic, Good for a Date, Tapas, Neighborhood Gem, Fit for Foodies, Creative Cuisine, Good for Birthdays, Special Occasion

USed OpenTable for an early, 1st seating reservation 5:30. I arrived a little early and learned their 1st seating was 5pm. We had the dinning room to our group of 4 and did not have deal with yelling to have a conversation which is so typical with restaurants these days. I am sure the noise level was loud later in the evening after we departed at 7pm. Service and Food was spectacular! Started with a round of Pisco Sours before moving on the wonderful red wine from a really nice and informative wine list presented in an iPad. Tapas was delicious and most portions were great but a few were small. My second dinner at Destino and will be back again!

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